How To Choose The Right Chokes

It is probably fair to say that while many who take their shooting more seriously will have given their choice of choke lots of thought, a significant proportion of game shots don’t even know what chokes they have in their gun.

However, the gradual move away from lead shot and towards steel means that even choke-agnostic shots will need to give the question at least a little thought, and even those who do think about choke might be advised to refresh their knowledge!

At TEAGUE we have been at the forefront of choking technology since 1980, so we've got plenty of experience of advising game and clay shots on the best options for their shooting.

What is shotgun choke?

Shotgun choke is a tapered restriction at the muzzle end of the shotgun, and consists of a cone-shaped section inside the barrel that tapers from the diameter of the bore down to the diameter of the chosen choke.

Why do shotguns have choke?

In simple terms, choke changes the shape of the shot pattern as it leaves the muzzle. The purpose is to alter the effective range of a shotgun. This is achieved by tightening or opening the pattern, resulting in cleaner kills. The tighter the constriction, the greater the effective range; the more open the choke, the closer the effective range. 

No particular choke is inherently better than another - it all depends on the range at which you are shooting as to what is the best choice for you. Ultimately you’re looking for a pattern with the greatest density of shot, without significant gaps or groups, at your chosen distance.

How is choke classified?

TEAGUE chokes are classified as follows, from most open to tightest:

Steel shot and shotgun choke

The question of steel shot and shotgun chokes is a complex one.  The constriction of the barrels causes a build up of pressure in front of the chokes, which can cause rippling or bulging of the barrels, which means that the gun would fail proof, and would be unsafe to shoot.

Because steel is lighter than lead, it requires more pressure to achieve the same performance. High performance steel cartridges generate more pressure than standard steel cartridges, resulting in the need for more open chokes. 

We have done some testing, and the maximum choke we recommend for using high performance steel cartridges is ¼. With standard steel cartridges we recommend using no greater than ½ choke.

Because steel shot cartridge loads pattern tighter than lead, less choke is needed to achieve the same pattern at the same range, so effectively ½ choke when using steel is equivalent to using full choke when shooting with lead loads.

via BASC

Here at TEAGUE Precision Chokes, we’re particularly keen to emphasise safety, especially when it comes to using steel on older shotguns. When choosing your cartridges, it is vital that you use a cartridge of the correct case length for the chambers of your gun, so a 65mm case for a 65mm chambered gun, and 70mm case for a 70mm chambered gun. It is also key to ensure that you do only use the correct type of steel shot cartridges for your gun - do not use high performance steel in a gun that does not bear the STEEL SHOT or Fleur de Lys proof marks.

Whenever we work on someone’s gun we submit it for reproofing to ensure that it is safe. The criteria for steel proofing are that the barrels be tight to the action with no play, and that there is no pitting or markings inside or outside the barrels. We do not recommend that side by side guns be reproofed for high performance steel, only standard steel.

How to tell what choke your shotgun has

Although some guns do have markings on the barrels to indicate what chokes a gun has, there are a number of reasons to treat these with caution. Guns could have had work done on them in previous years to remove pitting or dents, or could have had the chokes opened out by a previous owner, rendering the markings useless. 

Consequently the best way to find out what choke your gun has is to take it to your trusted local gunsmith or send it to a company like TEAGUE, where an expert can measure the bores and the constriction to get an accurate reading.

Can I get my fixed chokes adjusted?

Shotguns with fixed chokes can be adjusted quite easily, especially if you are going from a tight choke to a more open choke. If you’re happy to go with a simple reduction from one fixed choke to a more open fixed choke, any gunsmith can do this for you, assuming the barrels are in good enough condition, but obviously I’d always recommend coming to us, given our specialisation in the field. If you do decide to use your local gunsmith, I always recommend that you have the gun re-proofed once the work has been completed.

However, if you’re having this work done, you may want to consider opting to have interchangeable multichokes fitted. The process takes around 2 weeks from collection of your gun to return.

How to choose shotgun chokes for driven pheasant shooting

For the vast majority of game shots, shooting driven pheasants at distances in the 25-35 range, maybe a 40 yard second barrel, and using lead cartridge loads of 28-32g in 5 and 6 shot size, we always recommend a ⅜ and ⅝ choke combination for. For partridge we would suggest ¼ and ⅜ as a perfectly sufficient choke combination. 

When using steel on the same birds, there’s still a lot of testing to be done, but when I did some trials last season I was using 32g 4s and 5s - in standard steel - and they were perfectly effective up to around 35 yards.

Credit: Sarah Farnsworth

The best chokes for high bird shooting

For high pheasants of around 35-45 yards, using 34-36g lead loads in 4 and 5 shot, we suggest a choke combination of  ⅝ and ⅝. For extreme high birds, at ranges of 45 yards plus, and we suggest ⅞ and ⅞.  

When it comes to using steel on high birds, we’d suggest ¼ and ⅜, for standard steel 32g 4s and 5s, but for a bigger load, you will want to go with a more open chokes. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the load, the more open the chokes you will require.

Ultimately, the best way to choose the right chokes for your shooting, is to try out a range of cartridge and choke combinations on a pattern plate, and find the one that gives the best performance overall for your gun.

Should I choose fixed or multichoke?

By definition, if you chose to have a fixed choke, this limits your choice when it comes to cartridges. Having multichokes gives you a greater choice, allowing you to choose different cartridges for different situations.

There are no real downsides to having multichokes, so I would always advise people to opt for multichoke. It could be argued that once you have found a choke combination that you like, you’d be best off to stick with it, but having the ability to change is always handy, even if you don’t end up using it: in my view, it is better to have the option and not need it than to need the option and not have it!

Extended or internal chokes?

Most game shots opt for flush-fitting internal chokes (invisible) - it means there’s nothing awkward in the eyeline, and people tend to prefer the aesthetic of internal chokes. If you’ve got a lovely old side-by-side you probably don’t want stuff sticking out the end, do you?!

TEAGUE Precision Chokes invisible multichokes employ a thin walled choke system that easily converts any fixed choke shotgun to a multi-choke system

While we do sometimes fit extended chokes to guns for people who do a lot of walked up shooting - because they like the protection it gives their barrels in case they trip and fall - in general extended chokes are mostly favoured by clay shots. Although they do result in less pellet distortion and more consistent patterns, for most game shots the aesthetics of the flush-fitting chokes outweigh the improved performance of the extended chokes.

Don’t overthink it!

Ultimately, the question of choke can be as complex or a simple as you choose to make it. It is very easy to over-complicate matters to the detriment of your shooting, so for most people I would recommend making use of a pattern plate to find a couple of choke and cartridge combinations that cover most of your shooting scenarios and leave it at that. Once you’ve made your choices, focus on enjoying your shooting.

For further advice on choosing the right chokes for your gun and your shooting style, contact Teague Precision Chokes.